Wheel disk construction



G. A. LYON WHEEL DISK CONSTRUCTION July 18, 1939.

Filed Dec. 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l 5 6607299 4/6671 afyox Mat/ 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .4 5 UP 6190176 Q/erz afyah.

July 18, 1939. G. A. LYON WHEEL DISK CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec.

July 18, 1939. G. A. LYON 2,166,216

WHEEL DISK CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 12, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 18, 1939. LYQN 2,166,216

' WHEEL DISK CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. ('12, 1934 4 SheetS-Sheet' 4' 5W is Cearye fillers @072,

Patented Ju 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '8 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in'wheel disk construction, and more particularly to an ornamental disk for disposition over the outer side surface of a vehicle wheel. More specifically, it

' 5 is an object of the invention to provide for the attachment of an ornamental disk to the central or nave part of a wheel in such a way as to cause the disk to be held under tension on thewheel nave par-t.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel ornamental disk to overlie a portion of the side surface of a wheel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel ornamental disk which is economical to manufacture and which is rugged and reliable in use.

It has often been found in the -past that, where an ornamental disk element has been used in con-v nection with, a vehicle wheel and seured to the wheel by means of bolts, clamps or the like, especially if such securement was adjacent the central portion of the wheel, extreme difliculty has been experienced in providing a construction that was not subject to rattling or similar undesirable noises.

Accordingly, it 'is another object of the present invention to provide an ornamental disk which may be attached to a vehicle wheel by means of bolts or equivalent means, the disk'being such as to enhance the engagement and tend to prevent the loosening of the bolts or other meansi' Also an object of this invention is the provision of a disk for attachment 'to the side surface of a wheel so constructed that when attached, a portion of the disk immediately adjacent the attaching means is maintained under tension, thus tending to prevent loosening of the attaching means and providing a'tight construction'with the substantial elimination of rattling or other similar undesirable noises.

It is also an important object of thisinvention to provide an ornamental disk attachable to a vehicle wheel in sucha manner that the wheel Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of thestructure shown in Figure 1 with the hub cap removed,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line IIIIII of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line IV--IV of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line V--V of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; v

Figure 6 is a side view similar to Figure 2, with the hub cap removed, illustrating a modification of the invention in which the central portion of the disk is of slightly difierent construction;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line VIL-VII of Figure 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 8 is a side view similar to Figures 2 and 6, with the hub cap removed, illustrating a further modification of the invention wherein the ornamental disk structure carries the retaining means for the hub cap;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line IXIX of Figure 8, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating how a cushioning element may be utilized, if so desired, between the periphery of the ornamental disk and the wheel rim, with any of the disk structures shown herein.

In the first form of my invention which is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, of the accompanying drawings, the reference character I designates generally a drop center rim or rim part of a wheel, which also includes a hub part generally designated by the reference character 2. The hub part is provided with an inwardly turned flange 3 secured to the base flange 4 of the rim by any suitable means, such as rivets 5.

The nave part 2 also includes a central fastening flange 6 which is offset inwardly towards the median plane of the wheel. This flange 6 is adapted to be secured by the usual fastening elements or bolts, such as the cap screws 1, to a wheel axle part 8 associated with the brake drum 9 (Figure 3). This nave part 2 is preferably. formed from relatively heavy sheet material and, as outlined hereinabove, has a relatively unfinished outer surface. In the manufacture of such wheel nave parts on a large production basis, it is prohibitively expensive to provide the outer surface of the nave part with the proper finish satisfactory for an external or visible part of a wheel. I propose, therefore, to provide a disk which will eliminate the necessity of giving the nave part 2 a high grade finish and which can be applied to the wheel to cover substantially the entire outer surface of the nave part. Of' course, such a disk structure must be capable of automatically adjusting itself or compensating for the manufacturing tolerances allowed in the manufacture of such nave parts.

The drop center rim I herein illustrated includes the base flange 4 connected to intermediate opposite flanges Ill-i0 which terminate at their outer extremities in the outer edges ll-ll of the rim. The fastening flange 6 of the nave part is provided with a plurality of spring clips [2, usually five in number evenly positioned around the axis of the nave, secured to the fastening flange 6. These clips removably hold in positon l3 (Figure 5) on outwardly offset portions of the flange 6. The clips removably hold in position a hub cap 14 which covers the opening 15 through the central portion of the nave part 2. Of course, there will be tolerable variations in the construction and location of these spring ele ments I2.

The form of ornamental disk structure seen in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, generally indicated by reference numeral 16 in Figures 1 and 2, is of such a size as to extend substantially from the inner termination of the nave part 2 to a point between the intermediate flange I0 and the base flange 4 of the rim I. The outer portion ll of the disk structure I6 is arcuate in cross-section and may be provided with a reverse bend l8 at the periphery thereof, which bend contacts with the rim between the intermediate flange l0 and the base flange l to cover the crack or joint I9 between the flange 3 of the nave part and the base.

flange of the rim, and prevent dirt and debris from accumulating therein. This arcuate portion I! terminates radially inwardly in a laterally inwardly rounded portion 20 shaped to bottom or seat on an outwardly projecting bead 2| of the hub part 2. In the inner part thereof, the disk is formed into a. fastening flange 22 centrally apertured as at 23 in alignment with the aperture IS in the nave part 2, and the fastening flange 22 .is inwardly disposed towards the median plane of the wheel from the rounded part 20.

As seen more clearly in Figures 2 and 5, the disk adjacent the outer portion of the fastening flange 22 is provided with suitable slots 24 of such a size that the spring elements l2 may project freely therethrough. The fastening flange is also provided with apertures 25 of such a size that the bolts 1 may project freely therethrough (Figures 2 and 3), so that ,these bolts or cap screws may be manipulated without interfering with the position of the disk structure relatively to the wheel. In other words, upon the removal of the hub cap M, the cap screws 1 may be removed and the wheel taken off the vehicle without the necessity of removing the disk structure from the wheel.

The disk structure I6 is, in this instance, secured to the fastening flange G of the nave part 2 by means of suitable stud bolts 26 (Figure 4) the heads of which are seated in suitable recessed portions 21 formed in the disk, and the shank of which bolts are threadedly engaged in the fastening flange 6.

Upon the tightening of the bolts 26, the inner which is an important feature of my disk, places a tension upon the inner portion of the disk. Such tension aids in insuring a tight engagement of the disk with the wheel, tending to substantially eliminate rattling or similar undesirable noises.

Also such engagement of the disk to the wheel permits the disk to automatically compensate for slight manufacturing variations in the construction of the parts of the wheel.

While the hub cap i4 is so shaped as to intimately overlie the rounded part 20 of the disk, such'contact of the hub cap with the disk is not necessary to aid in maintaining the disk in position, but such contact is preferable in that it tends to prevent the entrance of dirt into the space behind the hub cap.

A further feature of such mounting of the disk resides in the fact that the tension placed upon the inner portion of the disk results in an application of pressure upon the bolts 26 tending to prevent these bolts from becoming loos during usage of the vehicle. Lock washers or similar devices are hence not necessary for the proper securement of the bolts 26.

The reverse bend l8 on the outer periphery of the disk may or may not contact with the rim I, but it is preferable to have the contact to prevent the entrance of dirt into the crack I 9. Some pressure of the disk againstthe rim may occur and such pressure can be graduated as desired by an obvious slight shaping of the disk. Of course, with the disk being made of relatively thin material, the outer surface of the disk may be given substantially any desirable finish very economically. This finish may be in the form of a polish, a plating or coloring matter in order that the disk may be in harmony with the general appearance of the vehicle. Obviously, too, the visible portion of the disk may be given substantially any configuration to enhance the general appearance of the vehicle.

As is customary in wheel construction, an aperture 28 is provided in the rim l for the projection of a tire valve, and in this instance the disk I6 terminates just within the aperture 28. Of course, if so desired, the disk may extend further outwardly over the rim surface and the disk itself either notched or provided with an aperture to accommodate the valve.

In Figures 6 and 7, I have illustrated another form of the invention shown mounted upon the same wheel structure as above described. The main differences between the disk lGa shown in Figures 6 and 7 and that previously described lies in the construction of the disk at its bearing point with the bead 2| of the nave part 2, and also by the elimination of the fastening flange 22 upon the disk and the substitution therefor of a plurality, in this instance three, of radial projecting portions 29. The disk in this instance is attached to the nave part 2 of the wheel by means of a plurality of bolts 1 which hold the wheel onto the axle part 8.

The radial projections 29 of the disk are formed by notching out two portions of the disk, as indicated at 30, and a smaller notch is provided in the disk, as indicated at 3|, the notches 30 and 3| providing suitable openings through which the spring clips l2 extend into position for removably holding the hub cap l4. The spring clips l2 are attached to the nave part 2 in the manner previously described. As seen more clearly in Figure 6, the radial projections 29 are so disposed as to be in position for reception of a plurality of the bolts 1, in this instance three, one of the projections being upon one side of the axis of the wheel and two projections upon the other side of the axis. As seen more clearly in Figure '7, each of the projections is provided with a suitable aperture 32, and the portion of the disk immediately adjacent the aperture is arched, as indicated at 33, to provide more resiliency upon the tightening of the bolts.

In this instance, also, the disk is provided with an arched portion 2011 which distinguishes from the previously mentioned portion 20 by not being in conformity with the contour of the bead 2| upon the hub part 2 Such construction permits the disk structure to bottom or bear against the hub part 2 at two points, 34 and 35, one above the central portion of the bead 2| and the other below the bead, respectively.

Upon the tightening of the bolts 1, the inner portion of the disk structure from a point just outside of the bead 2| is placed under tension. The radial projections 29 are sufliciently resilient to give somewhat as the bolts are tightened in their sockets, such tension functioning in the same manner as aforesaid.

The hub cap I4 is shaped'along its outer periphery, in this instance, in conformity with the shape of the rounded part 20a of the disk, and the engagement is sutficiently tight to prevent dirt and debris from entering the space behind the hub cap. The operation and advantages of the disk "in are substantially the same as the one previously described, with the exception that the disk lGa is detached from the wheel upon the removal of the bolts 1 holding the wheel on the vehicle. The disk is also easily removable from the wheel by the removal of only three of the five bolts 1 which hold the wheel on the vehicle.

The other illustrated form of my invention, shown in Figures 8 and 9, difiers mainly from the previously described forms in that the ornamental disk structure 'carries the spring clips l2 which removably hold the hub cap I4. In this instance, the wheel construction is substantially the same as that previously described. The disk structure Nib has the upper arched portion l'l terminating in its outer periphery in a reverse bend Hi to contact with the rim I, and is also provided with a rounded portion 201) similar to the portion 20a, and seating at a point 34 above the central portion of the bead 2| of the nave part 2. Below the central portion of the bead 2|,

the disk element is provided with an inclined rearwardly extending wall 36 of substantially the same configuration as the adjacent part of the rim against which the wall abuts. The wall 36 terminates in a radially extending fastening flange 31, apertured as at 38, in alignment with the aperture l5 through the nave part 2.

The flange 31 is provided with suitable apertures 39 sufficiently large to permit the cap screws or bolts I to extend freely therethrough, so that the wheel may be removed from the vehicle by the removal of the cap screws without the necessity of removing the ornamental disk element [6b from the wheel. p

In this instance, the hub cap retaining clips l2 are secured to'the fastening flange 31 of the disk I617 in any suitable manner, such as by rivets .ment is deemed necessary or desirable.

40. Of course, the fastening flange 31 is spaced from the flange 6 of the nave part sufliciently to accommodate the inner portions of these rivets. Each of theclips is further provided with an elongated base 4|, which base is apertured to 5 accommodate the shank of a bolt 42. The bolts 42, in this instance, have a double purpose or function, namely, to hold the disk structure l6b upon the wheel and also to prevent the spring clips 12 from pivoting on their respective rivets 10 40. In this instance, the hub cap I4 is also formed to snugly fit over the rounded portion 20b of the. disk and the fit is sufficiently tight to keep dirt from entering the space behind the hub cap.

To insure a tight holding of the ornamental 15 disk in position upon the nave part 2 andtoprovide some tension at the inner portion of the disk, the fastening flange 31 preferably does not contact the fastening flange 6 of the nave part adjacent the inner edges of these flanges. Thus, the inner 20 portion of the flange 31 will be sprung inwardly when the bolts 42 are tightened and this, together with the relatively wide bearing surface between the nave part 2 and the inclined portion 36 of the disk, provides suflicient tension to give the 25 advantages above mentioned.

The operation and advantages of the disk are substantially the same as those previously de scribed hereinabove in connection with Figures 1 to 5, inclusive.

In Figure 10, I have indicated how the peripheral edge of any of the disk structuresdescribed herein may be provided with a cushioning element for contact with the tire rim I, if such ele- In this 35 instance, the outer edge of the arched part I! of the disk structure is arched inwardly, as at 43, to provide an undercut groove. In the groove formation so provided, a cushioning element 44, in this instance shown in the shape of a figure 8 4 is retained by means of a rust-proof wire 45 passing through one of the two portions of the cushioning member. The other tubular portion of the cushioning member is free for resilient contact against the adjacent surface of the tire rim. 45 In order to conceal the cushioning engagement with the rim, a series of teeth 46 may be struck from the disk structure, and an arcuate orna-' mental bead or band 41 shaped to overlie the engagement between the disk and rim may be positioned by engaging an inwardly turned flange 48 of the band beneath the teeth 46. l

I am aware that many changes may be made and. numerous details of construction may be varied through .a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a wheel structure including rim and nave parts with hub cap retaining members carried by the nave part, and an ornamental disk for disposition over the side surfaceof the wheel inside of the outer edge of the rim part, said disk having openings therein of sufiicient size to permit said retaining members toextend freely therethrough.

2. In combination, a wheel structure including rim and nave parts with mounting bolts and hub cap retaining members associated with the nave part, and an ornamental disk inside the rim part bolted to the nave part by bolts separate from the'said mounting bolts, said disk overlying the outer side surface of the hub part and having openings therein throughwhich the said mount.-

ing bolts and retaining members may freely extend.

3. In combination, a wheel supporting member,

a wheel structure including rim andnave parts, said nave part having a plurality of hub cap retaining members thereon, and an ornamental disk of relatively thin sheet material disposed over the outer side surface of the nave part, said disk having openings therein through which said retaining members fr eely extend and mounting means extending through said disk, wheel structure and wheel supporting member and securing them together.

4. In combination, a wheel including rim and nave parts, and an ornamental disk for disposition inside the outer edge of the rim and over the outer side surface of the nave part, said disk being arranged to bear against a portion of said nave part and be spaced therefrom radially and axially inwardly of the bearing area, and securing means adapted to engage the nave part for joining said disk to the nave part, said securing means engaging said disk in the region thereof spaced from the nave part.

5. In combination, a wheel including rim and nave parts, and an ornamental disk for disposition inside the outer edge of the rim and over the outer side surface of the nave part, said disk being arranged to bear against a portion of said nave part and be spaced therefrom radially and axially inwardly of the bearing area, and securing means adapted to engage the nave part for joining said disk to the nave part, said securing'means engaging said disk in the region thereof spaced from the nave part, and said disk being sufliciently resilientto become tensioned upon the tightening of the securing means.

6. In combination, a wheel including a rim when tightened. 10

'7. The combination comprising a wheel including a body part having a central dish-like portion, an omamental member disposed over the I outer side surface ofsaid wheel having a dishlike portion having an open face nested in the 15 dish-like portion of said body part, means for securing said dish-like portions together, a closure cap adapted to cover the open face of said dish-like portion, the dish-like portion of said member having an annular series of apertures, a plurality of spring elements carried by said body part projecting axially outwardly therefrom through said apertures for yleldably retaining said cap in its closure position;

8. In combination, a wheel including rim and body parts, and an ornamental cover member for disposition inside the outer edge of the rim part and bearing against an outer side portion of one of said wheel parts, said member including an inner portion spaced radially and axially inward of said outer side bearing portion and provided with retaining means telescoping a portion of one of said wheel parts for attaching said member to the wheel, said retaining means connecting said member to the wheel in said radially and axially inwardly spaced portion and arranged to cause said cover member to be held under resilient tension onthe wheel.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

